María Manzano is a Spanish pianist whose restless and dynamic temperament has brought her to many of the world’s most important music schools in cities such as Granada, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and New York. Having learnt from world-class musicians, like her main piano professor and mentor Albert Attenelle, and also Christopher Elton, Pascal Rogé, Antonio Sánchez Lucena, Ramzi Yassa, Deirdre O’Donohue and Horacio Gutierrez, among others, her keen ear for poetry in musical performance has made her a sensitive and committed pianist.  Her performances of Romantic and Spanish Music have been praised by the critics “for their style and technical accuracy” and for “the intense expression she infuses into her communicative playing”.

 

She has given concerts in many major European concert halls, such as Salle Cortot in Paris, Collège d’Espagne at La Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, Fondation Biermans-Lapôtre of Belgium and Luxembourg, Liceu Auditorium and Gaudí’s La Pedrera Concert Hall in Barcelona, The National Concert Hall in Madrid, Euskalduna Palace in Bilbao, and others. She has appeared in Classical Music programs on TV and has played before such personalities as Her Majesty the Queen Sofia of Spain. María has also given recitals at important American venues, such as Carnegie Hall, Provincetown Playhouse, Blackbox Theater, Saklad Auditorium, and at the Seattle International Piano Festival.

 

In her extensive academic career she has studied at some worldwide renowned music schools such as: Liceu Conservatory in Barcelona, L’Êcole Normale Supérieure de Musique “Alfred Cortot” in Paris, New York University and Manhattan School of Music, where she graduated from Professional Studies with the highest honors (Dean’s List), after studying with the legendary Cuban pianist Horacio Gutierrez. 

 

After being selected as the best pianist at the music competition of Ferrer-Salat Music Foundation in Barcelona, the foundation decided to support her studies in Barcelona, Paris and New York with full tuition scholarship, which was a turning point in her career.

 

She has been awarded several other scholarships and prizes. Among them are those given by the Pedro Pons Foundation, the Spanish Association for Performer Musicians, New York University (NYU Talent Scholarship), the Andalusia International University, Artmusic, Ferrer-Salat Foundation Young Talents Grant, Madrid Conservatory First Prize, the Spanish College Music Competition at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, the “Paper de Música” International Competition and the “Cambra de Barcelona” Competition. In 2017, María was awarded the Culture Prize - Chiclana City Award, an award for her career, granted by the Chiclana (Cádiz) City Council.

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